UNITED NATIONS, March 31 (APP): The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Tuesday expressed his concern about the fast deteriorating situation inYemen, where dozens of civilians have been killed in fighting in recent days.

UN deputy chief calls for hydro-diplomacy as world faces growing water shortages -

UNITED NATIONS, Mar 30 (APP): The international community must gear up for a new era of hydro-diplomacy as the threat of water scarcity risks plunging the world into a period of geopolitical tension and stunted development, U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson told delegates gathered at the General Assembly Monday.

UNITED NATIONS, Mar 30 (APP): The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, Monday launched at Baghdad University #Unite4Heritage, a social media campaign to support Iraqiyouth and to mobilize young people worldwide for the protection of cultural heritage.

UN dims lights to focus attention on climate change -

UNITED NATIONS, Mar 29 (APP): The United Nations went dark later Saturday evening as the Organization shuts off the lights at its iconic Headquarters complex in New York and other facilities around the world in observance of ‘Earth Hour,’ an annual global event raising awareness about the need to take action on climate change and promoting sustainable energy consumption.

UNITED NATIONS, Mar 28 (APP): Pakistan has renewed its commitment to the “noble cause” of United Nations peacekeeping, the world body’s flagship activity that helps countries torn by conflict to create the conditions for lasting peace.

MELBOURNE, March 29 (APP): Australia regained the Cricket World Cup crown on Sunday when they routed their Trans Transman neighbors New Zealand by seven wickets in the day/night final here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for their overall fifth title.

ISLAMABAD, Nov 2 (APP): Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Saturday that the US drone attack in North Waziristan killing Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud was a major setback to the dialogue process.Addressing a news conference here, he said the Friday’s drone attack had scuttled the entire peace talks process with Taliban.The minister said meetings of the Federal Cabinet and Cabinet Committee on National Security would be convened soon after the return of Prime Minister from abroad to review the relations and coopeartion with the United States. He said the entire political leadership would also be taken into confidence on the emerging situation. He said it had been decided at a high-level meeting that the country’s ambassadors would brief the governments of five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council on the latest development and its impact on the peace in region.

He said the US Ambassador was being summoned to serve ademarche and convey formal protest of the Government of Pakistan over serious damage done to the dialogue process with Talibanby the drone attack.

Chaudhry Nisar said the Friday’s drone attack was in fact an ambush against the dialogue process and regional peace. It was carried out on the eve of visit of a three-member Ulema delegation, which was scheduled to leave for North Waziristan on Saturday to formally invite the Taliban leadership for dialogue. The Taliban leaders had already been informed in this regard, he added.
Giving details of the efforts for peace talks, the minister said in a meeting a few weeks after assuming the charge of his ministry, he told the US Ambassador that the United States should take the government’s stance on stopping drone attacks serious. “ Had the drone attacks not ended there would be a standoff in relations between the two countries.”
The minister said the dialogue process was being pursued keeping in view the national interest and not that of the US.
He said the US leadership had assured of not carrying out drone attacks during the process, except targeting only Hakimullah Mehsud and those Taliban, who would crossed the border into Afghanistan. However, the Pakistan government turned down the condition, saying that it would harm the talks process, he added.
He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had held a good meeting with the US President, who too assured to back the dialogue process.
“ The leader of the outfit with whom the government was going to talk, has been eliminated. Is this extending support to the dialogue process?” he questioned.
He said now was was the most difficult and critical time. “ We have to differentiate between friends and foes, and to know that who is responsible for present crisis in Pakistan,” he added.
He said the visit of Ulema delegation to Waziristan was the first step, which was going to be materialized after seven-week intense efforts, which had gone wasted after the drone attack.
The minister said Hakimullah Mehsud had never been target of the US. He had entered Afghanistan several times and could have been easily targetted. His killing a day before the start of dialogue process was aimed at sabotaging the initiative, he added.
Chaudhry Nisar said despite killing of army top officials, attack on the church and bus in Peshawar after All Parties Conference, the government showed patience and remained determined to continue the dialogue process and now he hoped from the other side to show same patience as the drone attack was not carried out by Pakistan.
He thanked all the political parties, amry and Ulema for faciliting and supporting the government on initiating peace talks with Taliban and evolving national consensus.